Pensioner death ship runs aground

A cruise ship which made headlines when a pensioner was killed by a freak wave has run aground with more than 750 mainly British tourists on board.

The 22,000 tonne MS Marco Polo was manoeuvring to drop anchor in high winds near Leknes in Norway’s northern Lofoten Islands when it became lodged in soft mud, British owner Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) said.

The ship hit the headlines in February when James Swinstead, 85, was killed and several other people were injured when water crashed through restaurant windows as storms hit the English Channel.

The ship is currently on a 14-night voyage to Norway and the Land of the Northern Lights with 763 passengers, CMV said.

It expects the ship to be freed and leave on schedule after an operation at high water this evening, but any passengers who want to go ashore are being transferred, it added.

Chris Coates, CMV’s commercial director, said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that Marco Polo can resume her itinerary and remain confident that she will continue to operate her Northern Lights cruise as planned.

“The comfort and safety of our passengers is our top priority. Our passengers have been fully updated of the situation.”

Tickets for the northern cruise can cost up to £2,749 depending on the time of year, according to the CMV website.